Apparatus for the stoppage of water from automatic sprinkler-heads after fires or accidents.



. Patented May l3, I902. T. TIPPING &. E. FLETCHER. APPARATUS FOR THE STUPPAGE OF WATER FROM AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER HEADS AFTER FIRES'OR ACCIDENTS.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(Application filed Feb. 13, 1902.)

WITNESSES diam/ 04 No. 70o,|03. Patented May l3, I902. Y T. TIPPING & E. FLETCHER. APPARATUS FOR THE STDPPAGE OF WATER FROM AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER HEADS AFTER FIRES OR ACCIDENTS.

lApplicationwed Feb. 13, 1902.)

' NITED ST TES;

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TIPPIN oFAsn'ro -TTPoN-R BBLE, AND EDWARD'IFILETCHER, on

PRESTON,'ENGLAND,"ASS'IGNORS;TO" WILLIAM LnwTs'noLLAND; on PRES- TON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TH-E-sToPPAeE OFWATERE FROM. AUTOMATIC SPRiNKLER-HEADS ,AFTER'HRES 0R ACCIDENTS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 700,103, dated May 13, 1902.

. 7 Application filed February 13, I902. Serial No- 93,989. (No model.) I v Heads After Fire'or Accident, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of an apparatus designed to instantly stop the escape of water from automatic sprinkler-heads after the same have been discharged by fire or acci-.

dentally. :5 In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of the apparatus made with two heads each adapted to close a difierent type of automatic sprinkler. Figs; 3 and 4., Figs. 5 and 6, andFigs, 7 and S are elevations of three different forms of the apparatus, each made with a single head and adapted to close different types of automatic sprinklers.v 7

Similar letters refer to similar parts through- 2 5 out the several views.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a designates the watersupply pipe of an automatic sprinkler installation, and in order to illustrate the application of the double-headed apparatus to two different types of sprinklers the drawing shows on the left-hand side a Titan or similar form of sealed sprinkler I), while on the right-hand side is a Grrinnell or similar form of valve-sprinkler b. The apparatus consists of a pole 0, upon the upper end of which is secured a frame (1, and on the lefthand side this frame has a horizontal fork e, adapted to fit over the body of the sprinkler b. The frame CZ has also two horizontal arms or projections d d one above the other, and a rod f, with a valve-shaped top f, is fitted to slide vertically in holes" in these arms. A lever g is pivoted to the frame d, and one end of this lever liesin a slot in the rod f and the other end-ist connected by a wire it to a hand-lever o', (see Figs. 7 and 8,) which is pivoted to the pole c and has ratchet-teeth formed upon its segmental end, and by means of a pawl or catch j the hand-lever '5 can be locked as already described.

. spring 0.

in either of the positions shown. On the right-hand side of the frame d, Figs. 1 and 2, is formed a horizontally-projecting wedgeshaped head is, adapted to be inserted between the bridge or gallery and the valveseating on the under side of the body of the Grinnell or similar sprinkler b. A lever Z is pivoted to the frame (1, and one end of this lever has a valve Z and the other end is connected below by the wire it to a second lever t with ratchet-teeth and a retaining-pawl j,

In operation when it is desired to stop the rush of water from a sprinkler the operator, standing on the floor, raises the pole c and places the finger-like projections of the fork e inv some makes of sprinklers over the body of the sprinkler b, one finger on each side of it, While in other makes of sprinkler the wedge-shaped head is inserted between the bridge or gallery and the body of the sprinkler b, and by depress- 7o ing the hand-levers 2' the leversg and l are actuated and close their respective sprinklersin one case, b, by. means of the vertically-sliding rod f and in the other case by means of the lever Z.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the apparatus as adapted for sealing a discharged sprinkler b of the Witter or similar type. In these views the fork e, instead of being fixed, is carried by a vertical bar m, supported and 8c guided in projecting arms (1 d on the frame (:1. p A valve or stopper n is carried by an arm 'n, fixed on or formed with the frame d, and the fork e is held normally raised by a coiled When, however, it is desired to stop the discharged sprinkler b the fork e is placed over the body thereof, the valve 71' is pressed up into the sprinkler, and the parts are drawn closely together and thesprinkler sealed by operating thewire h and then locking the hand-lever z, with which it is connected, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) in the manner previously described.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the right-hand side ofthe apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but

in this case made with a single head and mounted alone on a pole o,and in like manner Figs. 7 and 8 showa modified form of the apparatus, Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to seal a sprinkler b of the type shown on the lefthand side of Figs. 1 and 2. In this arrangement the valve or stopper n will either push up the sprinkler-valve or will directly seat upon the discharge-opening and itself seal the sprinkler in those cases in which the valve falls away when the sprinkler is discharged.

It will be readily understood that the apparatus may be slightly varied or modified to suit corresponding variations or modifications in the construction of the automatic sprinkler, and, further, that the apparatus will act equally well if applied to sprinklers which are arranged to discharge upward instead ofdownward,as shown. In some casesas, for example, when sprinklers are placed near the roof and are arranged to discharge upwardthe apparatus would be mounted upon a short handle to enable the sprinkler to be readily closed from above it, and in such cases the ratchet hand-lever t' and retaining-pawl 7 might be dispensed with and the movable part held by a screw and nut or equivalent device.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- The combination with an automatic sprinkler installation, of an apparatus for sealing a discharged sprinkler, said apparatus consisting, in its essential features, of a frame mounted upon a pole, a part carried by the frame and arranged to engage the body of the sprinkler, a valvular part arranged to seal the sprinkler and operating means, such as a connected ratchet hand-lever and retainingpawl, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS TIPPING. EDWARD FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

PERCY ROBINSON, ARTHUR TAYLOR. 

